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      Thursday, January 22, 2015


entertainmentstuff
09:38 PM - 01/22/2015

The topic: Advanced screening: “Kingsman: Secret Service”

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We had the chance to see the new Johnny Depp vehicle, "Mortdecai" tonight. We had the passes. But the last few Depp movies have been really weird. Brian's busy, so we just figured we'd not go.  The screening was in La Jolla and honestly, we were kind of afraid that the trailers for the movie contained (as so often happens) all the best parts of the film and just decided to pass on it. Then I got notice that there were passes available for "Kingsman". From the trailers I could find, it looked like a movie we'd enjoy. Here's one of them.

 
When the movie was over and we were walking out, I asked Brian "What the fuh was that?"  Talk about a weird movie. What did we just see? What was that? 
 
It started out violently. But it was okay because the opening soundtrack was Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing". Really! Awesome, this is going to be a great film! Then it kind of smoothed out somewhat. Then there was more violence. Granted, the violence was done in such a manner that it was just surreal. 
 
The premise is of a British secret service agency, that's been around for hundreds of years, descending from the Knights of the Round Table. They are so secret that no one has ever heard of them. They're called "Kingsman". The front for their agency is a tailor's shop. Lots of great special effects and Bondish types of fun weaponry.  Bullet proof umbrellas, lighters that act as grenades, pens that can poison....all very interesting. Samuel L. Jackson plays the villain, a billionaire named Valentine. He has a speech impediment that's not consistent and annoying. 
 
The service has lost a member and is looking for a replacement, to be chosen from one of the candidates that each member of the agency has nominated. There's training and learning and one by one, the candidates are sent home, until only one is left. That one becomes the replacement. And that's when the movie gets, um, serious? Wrong word, for sure.
 
I just couldn't decide if this movie was supposed to be humorous or what?  I wondered if Mortdecai was any better.  Unless you don't have anything better to do, I wouldn't waste my time. I won't watch it again.
 
And for the first time since I've been doing these little reviews, I'm going to add to this in the "but wait, there's more" section. And there will be spoilers. 

 


But wait! I'm not done yet!
I've got more to say!


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mrs. crankypants
02:47 PM - 01/22/2015

The topic: Stupid commercials

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These are a few of the companies who owe me monetary compensation for subjecting me to their idiotic commercials.

  • Any DirectTV commercial with Rob Lowe
  • Any Viagra commercial
  • Any Cialis commercial 
  • Liberty Mutual commercials

Which is why I like Netflix and recording programs.

 


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entertainmentstuff
11:00 AM - 01/22/2015

The topic: Advanced screening: “The DUFF”

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We saw this last night. It was cute, entertaining, formulaic....
 
You know who she's going to end up with at the end. It's the journey that makes it fun.
 
The star of the show, Bianca (Mae Whitman), is the "DUFF".  Designated Ugly Fat Friend.  Madison, the stereotypical bitch popular girl, is played by Bella Thorne, who played a very similar character in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  Bianca's next door neighbor and childhood friend is the very pretty Wesley (Robbie Arnell, who reminds me of a younger, taller version of Tom Cruise), a jock who is well liked by his fellow classmates. He's also the on again - off again boyfriend of Madison. 
 
It is a cute movie, teens will probably like it. There's some swearing,  Allison Janney drops an F bomb, simulated play sex (nothing bad or risque, everybody/thing is fully clothed), nothing to really get embarrassed about. 
 
It's not a movie I'd pay money to see at a theater. No big sweeping epic panoramas or scenery. But I'm well past the date nights of my teen years, so who knows?  But I'd watch it again on Netflix or a premium cable channel. 
 
Oh, they handed out teeshirts to the participants last night. Small teeshirts. One of the sayings is "I'm her DUFF" with an arrow pointing to the side. Seriously,  true DUFFs would NOT be able to fit into the shirt. I thought it was kind of funny. This shirt is headed to the vet's office. 
 
14110120
 
 

 


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otherstuff
09:29 AM - 01/22/2015

The topic: Cheaters

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Okay, let me start by saying I don't follow football. A long time ago we had season tickets to the Chargers, but the last game I went to, one of the people behind us sneezed and got snot in my hair. Never apologized and it turned out they were in someone else's seats. Brian had changed our seats for that season and we were in the hot sun for a lot of the game and I just wasn't enjoying them any longer. I didn't like the crowds, I didn't like that it took up so much of our time and I was just tired of going. And the Chargers weren't playing well, anyway. So, we ended up not renewing. (Coincidentally, we had just purchased annual passes to Disneyland....)

But I still watched the televised games. It's just what you did on fall weekends.In high school I was on the drill team (Desert High Scorpions! Edwards Air Force Base). Football.  My dad did it, I did it when I was single, I watched it after I got married (Brian was never as in to it as I was). If a game was blacked out (a lot of those here in San Diego), it was as if something was just wrong with the weekend. 

Then Michael Vick was chosen as Subway's "Sportsman of the Year". 

14110117

Just no. That made me sick, that someone who had done what he'd done was chosen "Sportsman of the Year". That man had no remorse, he was only sorry he got caught. He didn't give a crap about what he and his thugs did to those dogs. His prison time was for the financial aspect of his operation, not for animal cruelty.  "Sportsman of the Year". Scum. Pure and simple. I quit watching football on the weekends. I quit NFL football. It made me sad. 

So, this past week has been full of news about "deflate gate". The New England Patriots were playing with balls that were under-inflated. The game was a rout of the Indianapolis Colts. What I don't understand is why? Why cheat? They're obviously the superior team, why cheat? 

I don't understand cheating. Lance Armstrong cheated. Look at all the baseball players on steroids, giving themselves an edge over other players. To what end? More money? More fame? 

Is there enough money and fame to block out the fact that quite possibly you aren't the better player? That you got there by cheating? 

I just don't understand it. 

Brian said it comes to a point when it's he who cheats best, wins. He's right. And it sucks.


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lisaviolet is seventy something, married with no kids, takes care of lots of cats, likes taking photographs, loves Southern California weather and spends altogether too much time avoiding her responsibilities.

In her spare time, she makes pretty things to sell in her store.

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